Urban Aeronautics begins Panda flight testing

23 July, 2008

SOURCE: Flight International

BY: Arie Egozi

Urban Aeronautics has begun forward flight testing of its Panda unmanned fancraft, following a series of tests limited to hover and slow flight to gather data on the on the effectiveness of its patented vane control system.

According to president Rafi Yoeli, the data from the forward flight testing will be used to verify the vehicle's maximum attainable cruise speed as well as its planned endurance and range. The data from the Panda's flight testing is also being used to design Urban Aeronautics' Mule logistic support fancraft, which is a larger version of Panda designed mainly for frontline forces' resupply and medical evacuation missions. The Mule's first flight is expected in April 2009.

News that Etihad's partner Air Berlin has followed stablemate Alitalia into a formal restructuring process on top of the Gulf carrier's own exit from holdings in Darwin Airline and, before that, Aer Lingus leaves its European investment strategy in a state of disarray.

Now that Etihad Airways has elected to stop funding Air Berlin, forcing the German carrier to file for assembly, a central question is which parts of the business can continue to operate in the long term.